Shloka 22
Sarasvatī-Śāpavimokṣa, Rākṣasa-Mokṣa, and Aruṇā-Tīrtha
Indra–Namuci Expiation
विश्वामित्रकी बात सुनकर और उनकी पापपूर्ण चेष्टा जानकर वसिष्ठके भूतलपर विख्यात अनुपम प्रभावको जानती हुई उस नदीने उनके पास जाकर बुद्धिमान विश्वामित्रने जो कुछ कहा था, वह सब उनसे कह सुनाया ।।
ubhayōḥ śāpayor bhītā vepamānā punaḥ punaḥ | cintayitvā mahāśāpam ṛṣi-vitrāsitā bhṛśam ||
毗湿波耶那说：恒河听了毗湿瓦密多之言，知其所为乃罪恶之举；又明白婆悉吒在世间声名卓绝、威力无比，便前往婆悉吒处，将智者毗湿瓦密多所说尽数转告。她畏惧两道诅咒，屡屡战栗；思及那大咒的可怖威势，又因惧怕毗湿瓦密多仙人的怒火而惊惶不已。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of ascetic power: curses are not merely supernatural threats but moral forces with consequences. Fear arises when one is entangled in adharma or caught between competing authorities, urging discernment and restraint.
A river, having become involved in the conflict between the sages Viśvāmitra and Vasiṣṭha, is terrified by the prospect of being cursed by either side. She repeatedly trembles, contemplating the severity of the curse and the sage’s anger.